A cool and windy Saturday, we decided to stay fairly close to town and our vacation rental. Lily Lake is one of the easiest and flattest of hiking trails in Rocky Mountain National Park, and only about 15 minutes drive from our temporary home.
Our grandchildren, ages 10, 8, and two 5 year olds, remained on the easy trail for about 100 yards, and then darted uphill into the rocks and trees, to do some exploring.
After their return, we probably walked another couple hundred yards before deviating again onto a side trail that led to a spectacular view point.
Finishing at Lily Lake, we drove back to town, and then on through to the Fall River Visitors Center. After a brief briefing from a Park Service volunteer, we continued on through the Fall River entrance gate into the park.
Along Trail Ridge Road, we got a good look at a cow moose and her calf cavorting in the marsh near the highway.
At Hidden Valley Ranger Station, our grandchildren (along with a group of other children) were sworn in as "Junior Rangers." We enjoyed our picnic lunch and walked a short nature loop along Hidden Valley Creek.
We then drove to the Alluvian Fan -- a large deposit of rocks and sand that washed down the mountain in a flood in 1982. It was a wonderful rock scramble location for the kids.
By 2 p.m. the younger kids (and the adults) were showing signs of fatigue, so we returned to the VRBO for some R&R.
Grandson Corbin has been suffering from a kidney infection and had seen the doctor and gotten medication prior to leaving home. But things kept getting worse, so his parents took him to the local ER.
The rest of us took an evening drive inside the national park, and saw prairie dogs and elk, including a very young elk calf with its mother.
Exhausted from a full day of activity, bedtime came early for nearly all.
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